Guangzhou : Discipline and total concentration will be the key factors as the UAE try and scale their next step in their football semi-final against South Korea at the Tianhe Stadium here at 7pm (3pm UAE time) today.
"We cannot afford to relax for even a second while on the field. We know the quality of the South Korean team and their ability to breach even the most stubborn defences. So we need to be perfect at all times," UAE coach Mahdi Ali told Gulf News.
The UAE set aside North Korea in the quarter-finals last Friday by holding on to their nerves for a goalless draw at the end of regulation time and the extra 30 minutes of play.
Snappy goals
In the shoot-out both teams were tied 5-5, and it was only a superb save from goalkeeper Ali Khasief on the ninth kick off Ri Chol Myung that lifted the pressure to an extent. Mohammad Al Shehi then placed past an outstretched Ju Kwang Min to give the UAE a deserving 9-8 win and a place in today's semi-finals against South Korea. South Korea have always been the favourites in any continental competition along with Japan. In their quarter-finals against Uzbekistan last Friday, they were tied 1-1 at the end of the regulation period. But South Korea sealed the match 3-1 with two snappy goals in the first period of extra-time following lapses in the Uzbek defence.
"We need to learn from this. We cannot afford to make any such mistakes. We do so, then we stand the chance of getting punished," Mahdi Ali cautioned.
Meanwhile, the UAE coach will have to wait till today to see the progress on injuries to some of his key players including star striker Ahmad Khalil. "Sa'ad Surour is out of this competition for sure and I think he will most probably require surgery," he said.
Midfielder Theyab Awana and defender Mohammad Ahmad Juma had to be substituted in the UAE's earlier match against Kuwait, while Ahmad Khalil went to the ground with five minutes remaining in their game against North Korea with a muscle strain. "We still have another 24 hours, so I would rather prefer to wait and see who among them can play," he added.
